New Gear for the Binghamton Fire Department

Posted:
Friday, April 24, 2015 10:42 PM EDT

The City of Binghamton Fire Department is receiving almost $300,000 dollars in federal funding to replace outdated equipment.

Friday U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced 292,671 dollars in funding that will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

The department plans to use the funding to purchase 122 firefighter masks and 42 of the latest SCBA's or airpacks.

This new equipment will replace shared breathable masks and equipment that was over ten years old.

Fire Chief Daniel Thomas said, "Although we've never not had the equipment we needed. But to be able to go through and replace it all through out the department at one time that's very important to us and we're really excited about that."

The tanks the department is currently using have 30 minutes of lasting air.

After the upgrade the air tanks will contain 45 minutes giving fire fighters a longer escape time.